News Release

Dr. John and Margaret Savage Literary Award to be Established

(Friday, March 28/2003)-- An annual book award is being established to honour former Premier and Dartmouth Mayor Dr. John Savage and his wife, Margaret, it was announced today.

"The Margaret and John Savage First Book Award" will be awarded annually in recognition of an Atlantic Canadian author's first book, either fiction or non-fiction.

Mayor Peter Kelly, on behalf of Halifax Regional Council, and the Dartmouth Book Awards Committee announced today this year's winner will be announced at the Atlantic Writing Awards, to be held at Alderney Landing, Dartmouth, on May 16th.

Mayor Kelly said " Margaret and John Savage have been valued supporters of the arts community of the Halifax Regional Municipality, and indeed, the whole province. Hopefully, the establishment of the Margaret and John Savage First Book Award will demonstrate our appreciation for their many contributions."

In 1989, both the then Mayor of Dartmouth, John Savage, and his wife, Margaret, were instrumental in establishing the Dartmouth Book and Writing Awards, the first literary awards established by a municipality in Atlantic Canada.

Organized by a committee with representatives from HRM, the Halifax Regional Library Service and volunteers from the public, the awards have been presented annually for the best books of fiction and non-fiction, that are reflective of life in Nova Scotia. The awards are funded through the generosity of corporate donors.

Included among the distinguished writers who have been recipients of the Dartmouth Book and Writing Award in previous years were Harry Bruce, Silver Donald Cameron, Alistair MacLeod, Lynn Coady, Ann-Marie MacDonald and Budge Wilson.

Mayor Kelly concluded "It is appropriate that Doctor and Mrs. Savage be recognized with a literary award, due to Doctor Savage's strong support of the arts both in public and private life. What may not be as well-known, but deserving of just as much recognition are the years of service and support Margaret Savage contributed as a volunteer to the former Dartmouth Library system. Margaret's commitment to the Library, and especially to its program of delivering books to shut-ins, is an exemplary example of the spirit of volunteerism that exists in HRM."

Paul Robinson, Chair, Dartmouth Book Awards, said "The inception of the John and Margaret Savage First Book Award is the crowning moment in the distinguished relationship that for the past 15 years has existed among writers, books and the enduring contributions of John and Margaret Savage."

Mayor Peter Kelly
(902) 490-4010